A 29-year-old parolee who is now facing a weapons violation offered an unusual defense, prosecutors said in court Saturday.

“It’s Chicago — why shouldn’t I have a gun?’’ asked Lamont D. Haggard when he was arrested Friday night on the West Side, according to prosecutors during Haggard’s bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Wearing a black long-sleeved hooded sweatshirt and acid-washed jeans, Haggard stood before Judge Stephanie Miller, who, citing the “sheer quantity’’ of felony convictions Haggard has accumulated and the fact he was on parole at the time of the gun arrest, ordered him held on a $15,000 bond.

Haggard must come up with $1,500 cash to be free until his next court appearance.

Miller also asked for him to be placed on electronic monitoring.

About 10:15 p.m. Friday, Chicago police spotted Haggard carrying a gun in the 4200 block of West Jackson Boulevard, said Officer Carrie Constanzo, a police spokeswoman. Haggard, who has a history of felony drug convictions, was picked up and charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon.

Haggard said no when responding police officers asked if he had a FOID card or concealed carry license. After being taken to the Harrison District police station where he was fingerprinted and photographed, the person who called police about the incident asked Haggard why he had a gun. “It’s Chicago why shouldn’t you have a gun,’’ a police report said.

His attorney said Haggard is a “life-long’’ Chicagoan, lives with his mother and works at a factory.

Haggard was released on parole in 2017 after two of his most recent convictions — manufacturing or delivery of heroin and possession of a controlled substance, for which he was sentenced to six years, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.

His other three felony convictions include another manufacturing or delivery of heroin charge from 2010 and two other possession of controlled substance charges from 2007.

Haggard, of the 6300 block of South Campbell Avenue, was scheduled to appear in court again Friday.